You could be forgiven for assuming the new Buddha Bar in Knightsbridge is another ostentatious, overpriced London nightclub… the type of place I usually avoid at all costs. The exterior is dark and mysterious but take a step inside and you will find a sparkling opulent dining room offering fine Pan Asian food and exciting cocktails.

Established in September 1996 by Raymond Visan, Buddha-Bar in Paris is a globally recognised and acclaimed restaurant, bar and lounge, catering to A-list clients who appreciate elegance and style. The London equivalent seems to be appealing to a similar crowd; the smart environment and elevated prices certainly match Chelsea’s elite.

The restaurant specialises in Pacific Rim cuisine with a menu indicating influences from Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Eastern cooking. Flicking through the menu before my friend arrived, I found a large assortment of sushi, curries, salads and wok recipes. We opted for a varied selection. Pickled vegetables and salted edamame beans revived my sleepy tastebuds, ready for the feast of flavours that followed.

Chicken Salad sounds like a dull choice but is recommended as a must try… with thin slices of grilled breast and extra crunchy Chinese salad and sesame dressing, it is an exquisite mix of textures and tastes. The Vegetable Gyoza were unusually encased in dark elastic pastry and served with a spicy sweet chilli sauce. These were hot and very fresh, with seasoning that makes Buddha Bar’s version quite different to any gyoza I have tried before. Although the starters were very moreish, it all felt quite healthy, with few carbs and little fat.

For main, I would thoroughly recommend trying the Five Spice Barbecued Chicken, with a deep and rich flavour and tender crispy meat, this dish is an absolute joy to eat, the equivalent of the popular Wagamama Katsu Curry, but much better. The Lamb Curry with mint raita is tasty too, especially if you crave a meaty curry to warm your bones. I would have liked it perhaps a little creamier, but the flavour was interesting and tasty, a sort of mix between an Indian and Thai curry.

For dessert I wasn’t given much choice… the chocolate bar is apparently unavoidably good. A super slick long chunk of soft rich chocolate with a dense biscuit base and sesame seeds, accompanied by homemade vanilla ice-cream. The oriental sesame flavouring took me a moment to adjust to but by the second mouthful, I could not deny this is a killer dessert. Suprising too that a Pan-Asian restaurant excels in the pudding area, usually I avoid the jelly-like sweets.

Along with a lovely cocktail and glass of chilled white wine, I found Buddha Bar‘s food to be perfect for a long lunch meeting; though considering the price tag, I’m not sure how regularly one could visit.